Chapter Fourteen
G etting out of his car, Perry glanced over his shoulder, the itch between his shoulder blades getting stronger. Furrowing his brow when he saw the area was clear, he shook his head and walked into his apartment block. He had to freshen up, then meet Aled for a drink. Since he’d told Aled what had actually happened, he’d been in constant contact, making sure Perry was doing okay.
Messages, or a quick phone call, helped to ease the ever-present ache Perry carried around with him, something new he’d never experienced until after leaving Menut. Rubbing his chest as he entered his apartment, Perry made sure the door was locked, then sighed as his shoulders sagged. Dropping his bag to the floor, Perry kicked off his shoes, then walked into his bedroom to take his suit off.
He’d been working for Johnny since completing his computer science degree and had been in discussions about earning his masters so he could progress further. That had been before the bet that had led to Perry meeting Menut. One bet had changed his life in ways Perry hadn’t envisioned, but now that he was home, he could try to move on and put it all behind him.
Easier said than done, but Perry had made his decision, and he wasn’t about to change it. Here was home. This was where he was meant to be. With his friends and family and his feet firmly on the ground.
After a quick shower, Perry dressed and grabbed his keys and wallet. Leaving his apartment, he looked up and down the corridor, then took the stairs. Once outside, he messaged Aled to let him know he was on his way. The bar they’d chosen to meet at was a ten minute walk from Perry’s apartment, so he’d decided to walk. It was Friday, and he needed a beer or two to help him unwind.
As he walked along the sidewalk, the ever-present itch grew, and he shrugged his shoulders and searched the area. Nothing stood out, so he carried on, but the feeling didn’t leave. By the time he reached the bar, It’s Alive, Perry’s nerves were at a breaking point. The feeling of being watched had never been this bad, and all Perry could do was hope whatever had caused it was gone by the time he left.
Inside, he found Aled sitting at a booth with two beers in front of him. Perry grinned and made his way over to Aled, moving around tables and other customers. Music played in the background from the local radio station the bar had on, and when Perry reached Aled, he grinned as he slipped into the seat opposite.
“I need this,” he groaned as he took a mouthful of beer. “Thanks. Where are Dennis and Judd?”
“They’ll be here soon. I wanted to meet before they got here to see how you’re doing?”
“I’m good, actually. You know Stacy in HR?” Aled nodded. “She asked me out on a date, so I said yes.”
Aled frowned, glanced around the bar, then leaned across the table. “Don’t.”
“Why not?” Perry’s brow furrowed. “She’s nice and I like her.”
“You’re mated,” Aled hissed. “He will come for you.”
“Well, if he was going to, he’d be here already. I’ve been gone a month now. Life is back to normal and I’m more than happy with that. I want to forget it ever happened. It’s in the past and I’m moving forward.”
Aled snorted, shook his head. “For someone who has brains, you can be as thick as pig shit.”
“Hey! Fuck you too, man.”
“I’ll let the Mothman do that.” Aled arched an eyebrow as he leaned back in his seat. “He will come.”
“How the fuck do you know so much?”
“I know someone who’s been bitten by one of them. Like I said, not all monsters do it, but some do, and they tend to be very possessive about the one they’ve bitten. I’m surprised he hasn’t been to see you already.”
“Maybe he feels like I do, that it was a mistake.” Perry rubbed his chest, then dropped his hand when Aled watched him. “It isn’t as bad as it was.”
“Time and distance, I guess.” Aled shrugged, picked up his beer and took a sip. “Maybe he’ll stay away then. Maybe you’re right and he regrets giving you the bite.” Another shrug. “Could be he’s decided no more dick for him.” He flashed a grin. “Your tiny one probably put him off for life.”
“Hey, fuck you, man. I have a great dick.” Perry stared at Aled, whose lips twitched, then they both laughed. “Yeah, not talking about my dick with you.” Perry chuckled, then sighed. “I like Stacy. I want to see how the date goes.”
“Fine. Whatever, just keep an eye out in case he does come for you, but like you said. It has been a month, and he’s a no show.” Aled leaned on the table. “Have you heard about Judd?”
“No. What?”
“He had a threesome with a married couple.”
Perry’s mouth fell open. “What? Judd? Our Judd?” Judd was as straight as they come, not that he had a problem with gay people. He’d just never been attracted to a man. “Did he…you know?”
“He hasn’t gone into detail, but he’s meeting them again.” Aled’s eyebrows shot up. “I think he likes both of them, but he won’t say much about it even with me pestering him.”
“I’m gonna ask when he gets here.” Perry grinned. “It’s about time we talked about someone who wasn’t me.”
“Come on! You were lost on another world surrounded by monsters. That’s the most excitement any of us has ever had.” Aled grinned, then leaned forward again. “I’m tempted to go on the app myself.”
“Er, what?” Perry sat back, his eyes wide. “Why?”
Shrugging, Aled sipped his beer. “Why not? Look at you?”
“Yeah, look at me, who almost died and then lived in a cave for several days being…” Perry snapped his mouth shut. No, he couldn’t accuse Menut of hurting him or doing things to him. Perry had never said no. Not once. He’d wanted Menut’s touch, wanted to feel Menut inside his body so he couldn’t accuse Menut of taking him against Perry’s will.
“It was consensual, right?”
Perry nodded. “I never said no. It was unexpected, but I wanted it.” Perry licked his lips, picked up his beer, and took a mouthful. Just the thought of Menut above him, moving in him, and Perry fidgeting on his seat, fighting back his arousal. Even a month after he’d left, Perry couldn’t stop the way he felt about Menut, to the way his body reacted.
“I thought you were going to say something else.”
“He didn’t want me to leave,” Perry murmured. “Probably would have kept me, but he never forced me. Not once.”
“You… liked it, right?” Perry’s eyes snapped to Aled’s, and he narrowed them as he glared at his friend. Aled held his hands up. “I’m not judging here. I’m just asking.”
Perry looked away, watched the other customers in the bar. “Yeah. Yeah, I did.” And he knew if Menut came to him, he’d be with him again. Perry closed his eyes and breathed, needing the action to calm his racing heart. “He knew what he was doing. He never hurt me.” Opening his eyes, he looked at Aled. “Not once, so let it go.”
“How can I when you’re like this? You miss him.”
Perry ran his fingers over is lips as they tingled. The feeling of Menut’s lips on them grew, and he dropped his hand. “I’ll be fine. It’s not as bad as it was when I first came home. I’m moving on and he is too, because he hasn’t come for me, has he? Life goes on and I’m going on my date with Stacy. Menut was what happened on a different world. It’s over.”
Aled shook his head, but said, “If you say so.”
“I do, so drop it. Here are the others now.” Perry waved Dennis and Judd over. “Hey!” Dennis sat next to Aled and Judd slid in next to Perry. “How have you been?”
“Well, idiot here,” Dennis pointed to Judd, “Almost crashed on the way here.”
Judd sipped his soda and shook his head. “You saw it, right? It was a hydra! A hydra! With heads all over the place.”
“We’re a town that has monsters living and working in it. You’re going to see freaky shit.” Dennis swallowed a mouthful of beer, then pointed to Judd. “He’s screaming and pointing at the thing and almost slams into the side of a building. You owe me a drink.”
“Fine!” Judd threw his hands in the air. “I’m sorry, but I was surprised. Even you screamed.”
“Pfft. Don’t talk lies.” Dennis grinned when Judd flipped him off. “I may have gasped.”
Judd laughed. “Gasped as in ‘oh my god! What the fuck is that?’ at the top of your voice.”
Perry grinned at Dennis as Dennis muttered, “I don’t know why we’re friends.”
“I would have screamed.” Aled finished his beer and sighed. “Can you imagine getting sucked off by one?”
Perry’s stared at Aled. “Er, no?”
“No jaw ache.” Aled nodded. Noticing the other three stare at him, he said, “you never had a woman tell you how their jaw aches?”
“That would be a no.” Dennis shook his head at Aled. “I’m usually licking—”
“Let’s stop this conversation now.”
Perry agreed with Judd. “Who watched the game? That kick was fucking awful.”
They talked about the game, then argued about who was the better receiver. Perry laughed along with the others, more so when Aled suggested they all get dates on the app. Perry held his hands up and gave them all a firm no when they said all four of them should go to the other world together. Once was enough for him, and it meant there was less chance of him seeing Menut.
When the bar finally kicked the four of them out, Perry waved and strolled along the sidewalk, sighing softly as he smiled. He’d had a great night with friends and had hardly thought about Menut at all. It felt like he was finally moving on from the monster. Perry knew he’d never forget about Menut, but the ever-present ache in his chest had begun to dull, so he knew in time it would disappear.
The scar, however, wouldn’t. That would always be a visual reminder of those few days he’d spent with Menut. In time, he’d be able to look back on those days with some fondness, but right now, he couldn’t. The ache in his chest built, and Perry knew he had to forget about what had happened to move on. His date was a good first step and with a woman. He loved women. Had only ever been with women before Menut and that was how his life should be. A nice safe date and maybe some fun after.
Seeing his apartment up ahead, Perry picked up speed and ignored the itch between his shoulder blades. It was there all the time now, so he pushed it to one side. Opening the door to his block, he held it open as two women walked out. Shaking his head when he realized neither was going to thank him for holding the door open, he went inside and pressed the button to call the elevator.
Moving his shoulders, Perry reached back and tried to scratch the itch, but of course it did nothing. Shrugging, he stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for his floor. Closing his eyes, he sighed, the happy buzz from the alcohol making him smile. He’d needed a good night out with friends and tomorrow he would have a lazy day doing nothing.
Leaving the elevator, Perry opened his front door and shut it behind him, making sure it was locked. Kicking his sneakers off, he stretched and yawned, then hit the switch for the lights. When nothing happened, he tried it again, his brow furrowing when there was still no light.
Walking into his living room, he stopped when he realized someone was sitting on his sofa. Stepping back, he turned to run to the door when he heard his name. “Perry.”
Swallowing, Perry turned and watched the man stand, saw the wings expand, then shut and he knew who had found him. “Menut.”